Method, computer, machine-readable medium, computer program and system, concerning the manufacture of dental prostheses

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to the examination of a dental prosthesis, wherein the dental prosthesis is examined with finite element methods. Furthermore, the invention relates to the automated manufacture of a dental prosthesis, wherein the shape of a remaining tooth area is directly determined on the basis of the remaining tooth area itself. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method, wherein manufacturing data (milling data) which have been created with a system for calculating manufacturing data (system for calculating milling data) are optionally forwarded to one or another manufacturing machine (milling machine) at different locations.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/486,979, which was filed on Jul. 13, 2006, and which in turn claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(b) of German Patent Application SerialNo. 102005035475.0, which was filed on Jul. 28, 2005.

The invention relates to a method, a computer, a machine-readablemedium, and a computer program with program code means by which a datarecord representing a dental prosthesis can be examined.

Further, the invention relates to a method and a system for themanufacture of a dental prosthesis, wherein a data record for a dentalprosthesis is created and transmitted to a production system on thebasis of a data record representing a remaining tooth area.

Furthermore, the invention relates to two methods and two systems forthe manufacture of a dental prosthesis as well as a method for examininga dental prosthesis data record, a computer, a machine-readable medium,and a computer program concerning the examination of a dental prosthesisdata record. These objects relate to the treatment of manufacturing data(e.g. milling data) as they are employed for the manufacture of dentalprostheses.

Furthermore, the invention relates to two methods and two systems forcreating dental prosthesis data records.

From WO 02/39056 A1, it is known to digitally detect the shapes ofremaining tooth areas by means of patterns and to generate the shapes ofdental prostheses on the basis thereof with the aid of software. In theprocess, data records representing a dental prosthesis are created whichcan subsequently be used when the dental prostheses are manufactured,for example by milling.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the dentalprostheses which can be manufactured by this procedure. This object isachieved by a method according to claim 1, a computer according to claim12, a machine-readable medium according to claim 13, and a computerprogram according to claim 14.

It is another object of the present invention to facilitate oraccelerate the manufacture of dental prostheses. This object is achievedby a method according to claim 15 and a system according to claim 20.

It is another object of the present invention to integrate as optimallyas possible existing appliances into the manufacture of dentalprostheses. This object is achieved by a method according to claim 21, asystem according to claim 25, a method according to claim 26 or 30, asystem according to claim 29, a computer according to claim 31, amachine-readable medium according to claim 32, and a computer programwith program code means according to claim 33.

It is another object of the present invention to permit the user themodeling of dental prostheses with means as simple as possible. Thisobject is achieved by a method according to claim 37 and a systemaccording to claim 39.

This object is also achieved by a method according to claim 40 and asystem according to claim 42.

Advantageous embodiments are disclosed in the respective subclaims.

For improving the dental prostheses, it is suggested to examine the datarecords of the dental prostheses with finite element methods. With thesemethods, very diverse properties of the dental prostheses can beexamined or else simulated. For example, the breaking strength of thedental prosthesis or the stability of a dental prosthesis duringproduction etc. can be examined.

In application, dental prostheses underlie strong forces, for example,during chewing. In the process, the dental prosthesis is subjected tothe pressure between upper and lower jaws. Therefore, in the examinationof the data record, the data record of the remaining tooth area ontowhich the dental prosthesis is to be fitted and/or the data of theopposite tooth area (i.e. the upper jaw if the dental prosthesis isintended for the lower jaw, or vice versa, respectively) areadvantageously considered. However, an examination without these data isalso possible if, for example, any kind of force onto the dentalprosthesis is simulated with predetermined limits. In the process, onecan examine whether the dental prosthesis can deal with these forces.

A dental prosthesis is subjected to certain forces even duringproduction, while it is, for example, manufactured by milling it out ofa blank with a cutter head. The stability of the dental prosthesis forthe production process can also be examined with finite element methods.Here, it has to be considered that the forces during production might besmaller than those in application, that, however, the milling materialsometimes is raw ceramic material which is essentially more brittlecompared to fired ceramic material.

In an advantageous operation, the result of the examination is filed fordocumentation purposes. Depending on the result of the examination, thedata record of the dental prosthesis can be modified to achieve asufficiently high and desired breaking strength.

The examination of the data record can be performed before as well asafter the manufacture of the dental prosthesis. The performancebeforehand has the advantage that the dental prosthesis can be possiblymanufactured in a modified manner. On the other hand, an examination ispossibly only necessary when the dental prosthesis is already broken andone has to determine why it is broken.

If the dental prosthesis is broken or if the examination of the dentalprosthesis shows that it can be easily broken, a dental prosthesis datarecord is created which was preferably automatically changed such thatthe breaking strength was increased at the point of break. This can beperformed, for example, by correspondingly increasing the wallthickness, by additional or thicker webs or the like. Moreover, thedental prosthesis of the new dental prosthesis data record is preferablymanufactured directly. The new dental prosthesis data record can againbe examined for its breaking strength. Here, with a repeating iterationmethod (breaking strength test, change of the dental prosthesis datarecord), a dental prosthesis data record can be obtained whichcorresponds to an optimized dental prosthesis.

Moreover, if only after the manufacture of the dental prosthesis thebreaking strength is possibly doubted, the examinations with respect tothe breaking strength can be performed in order to prove that the dentalprosthesis can meet possible requirements.

Here, it is advantageous to graphically represent the tensions and/orforces and/or pressures that can lead to breaking, for example withcolors, shades of gray, etc. These tensions, forces and/or pressures areestablished with the finite element method. This graphicalrepresentation as a rule permits a good possibility of judging thebreaking strength by skilled observers and then also provides a goodindication for possible or necessary changes of the dental prosthesisdata record.

Such graphical representations can be established as individual picturesor else as video clips. They can be accessible to the person who createdthe dental prosthesis data record, for example by e-mail, by a webserver or otherwise (by mail).

In an advantageous approach, the dental prosthesis is manufactured andsubsequently photographed, so that the photos (also electronic pictures)can also be filed.

The method is advantageously integrated into a production process. Inthis case, it is e.g. also conceivable as regular part of a qualityassurance process.

For performing the method, a correspondingly equipped computer can beprovided. Moreover, a machine-readable medium or a computer program canbe provided for performing the methods.

When a data record is obtained which represents the shape of a remainingtooth area, usually, a model of the remaining tooth area is made as thelatter can then be separated into individual parts and can thus beoptimally scanned. In the method proposed herein, however, thepossibility of determining the shape of a remaining tooth area directlyon the basis of the remaining tooth area is considered. Here, the shapeof the remaining tooth area is, for example, determined in the oralcavity of the patient. The thus gathered data are transmitted tomodeling software by which a dental prosthesis data record can becreated on the basis of which a production system can manufacture thedental prosthesis.

The data record is preferably obtained with a so-called chair sidesystem that is arranged directly at the dentist's chair. If thereforeduring dental treatment it becomes necessary to manufacture a dentalprosthesis, the shape of the remaining tooth area can be directlyobtained. This is advantageously performed with an optical probe whichcan, for example, well measure cavities in teeth.

While the data record is advantageously obtained at the dentist himself,the modeling software can, for example, be employed in a dentistrylaboratory or a production center. This relieves the dentist of suchwork. The production system and the modeling software neither have to beat the same location as the production system can be, for example, in acentral production center, whereas the modeling software is used by adental laboratory technician or in a dentistry laboratory.

The manufacture of a dental prosthesis in a production center normallyhas great advantages with respect to the quality of the dentalprostheses as here corresponding apparatuses and experience areavailable.

The dental prosthesis is advantageously an inlay, but it can also be anoverlay, a crown, a part of an implant or a bridge.

In the method, the dental prosthesis data record is advantageously atthe same time examined with finite element methods. This can be made atthe location where the dental prosthesis data record is created as thenthe dental prosthesis data record can be adjusted on the basis of thisexamination. However, the examination can also take place at thelocation of the manufacture of the dental prosthesis as here condensecalculation capacity is available by which one can quickly check whetherit makes sense to produce such a dental prosthesis at all.

For performing the method, a correspondingly assembled system can beprovided.

Some dentistry laboratories have digitally controllable milling machinesby means of which smaller dental prostheses can be manufacturedrelatively quickly.

In production centers, normally higher-quality milling machines areavailable by means of which one can also easily manufacture large dentalprostheses. For doing so, systems for calculating milling data areavailable in the production centers, which calculate milling datarequired for the control of the milling machine from data representing adental prosthesis. These calculations require considerable calculatingcapacities. In the method, the execution of the milling data calculationcan be performed at one location, the milling data can then betransmitted to another location by remote data transmission, and at theother location, the dental prosthesis can be manufactured. This makes itpossible to have the milling data calculation performed in a productioncenter, but to carry out the dental prosthesis manufacture with amilling machine in the dentistry laboratory. This also has the advantagethat the dental prosthesis is available directly in the dentistrylaboratory. With a manufacture of the dental prosthesis in theproduction center, the dental prosthesis first has to be dispatched.

Instead of manufacturing dental prostheses with milling machines,construction methods can also be employed, such as laser lithography,where liquid or powdery medium is applied layer upon layer and therespective uppermost layer is hardened by laser irradiation. Thus, verydiverse structures can be manufactured. Representatively of generalmanufacturing methods for dental prostheses, here the milling methodwill be discussed. However, in all manufacturing methods, the sameproblems arise, as in each case a data record describing a dentalprosthesis has to be converted into manufacturing data that control amachine which can naturally by very elaborate.

It is furthermore advantageous if the dental prosthesis data record isalso created at the first location, i.e. for example in the dentistrylaboratory. The dental prosthesis data record can then also betransmitted to the production center by remote data transmission.

This relieves the dental laboratory technician of the maintenance andpurchase of systems for calculating milling data, and he can make use ofthem quasi as a service of a production center, or in this case rather acalculation center.

However, it is also possible that in the dentistry laboratory only thedata record that describes the remaining tooth area is gathered, thatthis data record is sent to the production center and that there thedata record that represents the dental prosthesis is created.

The transmission of the milling data from the second location or thefirst location can, for example, be performed only after a decision onwhether the transmission is to take place at all. Of course, it is alsopossible that the milling data are not transmitted but rather forwardedto a milling machine available at a second location, i.e. for examplewithin the production center.

For performing the method, a correspondingly equipped system can exist.

In other methods, it can be examined whether the milling data are to betransmitted to the first location or whether they are to be forwarded toa milling machine at the second location. For doing so, the data recordrepresenting the dental prosthesis or only a part thereof as well as therecord of the milling data can be examined.

The manufacture of large dental prostheses can thus be performed in theproduction center whereas the manufacture of small dental prostheses canbe performed in the dentistry laboratory with their smaller millingmachines. For doing so, a correspondingly equipped system can alsoexist.

Even independently of where or how a dental prosthesis data record wascreated, one can generally examine whether the milling data aretransmitted to a remote location or to a near location by means of adental prosthesis data record or a milling data record. For doing so, acorresponding computer, a machine-readable medium or a computer programwith program code means for performing the method can be provided.

In all methods, one can perform the examination of the dental prosthesisdata record with finite element methods at one or several of thedifferent locations.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are to be illustrated withreference to the accompanying Figures, wherein:

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show a dental prosthesis and a remaining tooth area indifferent positions relative to one another,

FIG. 2 shows a dental prosthesis with finite elements,

FIG. 3 shows a dental prosthesis between upper jaw and lower jaw,

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show a tooth with a cavity,

FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a procedure for themanufacture of a dental prosthesis,

FIG. 6 shows another schematic representation of a method for themanufacture of a dental prosthesis.

FIGS. 7-25 are flow diagrams illustrating different aspects of themethod of the invention.

FIG. 1 a shows a dental prosthesis 1 located above a remaining tootharea 2. The remaining tooth area 2 comprises two prepared stumps of thetooth 3 and 4 as well as a gingival area 5.

In FIG. 1 b, the dental prosthesis 1 is shown as it is fitted on theremaining tooth area 2. Here, the dental prosthesis 1 is a bridge. Forthe remaining tooth area 2 as well as for the dental prosthesis 1, therecan be a digital data record representing the remaining tooth area orthe dental prosthesis 1. Such a data record representing a dentalprosthesis 1 can be examined with a finite element method.

In FIG. 2, it is schematically shown how the data record of the dentalprosthesis 1 was subdivided into a large number of small elements 6(finite elements) by means of appropriate software. This approachpermits to simulate tensions that can occur in the dental prostheses dueto exterior forces. For example, one can examine what force is requiredfor breaking the dental prosthesis at the site marked by arrow 7. Theschematic subdivision into finite elements 6 shown in FIG. 2 is onlygiven by way of example. It will be advantageous to consider finiteelements varying in size and shape.

FIG. 3 shows how the dental prosthesis 1 is fitted on a remaining tootharea 2. Above the dental prosthesis 1, furthermore a tooth area 8 isrepresented which corresponds to the opposite jaw. Data representing theremaining tooth area 2 as well as the remaining tooth area 8 can beconsidered in the examination of the data record of the dentalprosthesis 1.

A dental prosthesis 1 is, for example, milled out of a blank duringmanufacture. In the process, forces that can also lead to a break areapplied on the dental prosthesis being formed. As a rule, the dentalprosthesis is not milled out of the end material, but in case ofceramics out of a preliminary stage which is subsequently fired wherebyit obtains its complete hardness. The material which is worked bymilling, however, is comparably brittle. In order to avoid a break inthe process, the data record of the dental prosthesis can therefore alsobe examined for stability during production.

In FIG. 4 a, a tooth 9 into which a cavity was milled is schematicallyshown. The cavity 10 can, for example, have been made for removingcaries. An inlay can be provided for filling the cavity 10.

In order to determine the shape of the inlay, the shape of the cavity 10has to be determined. This can, on the one hand, be performed byproducing a mould of the cavity 10 and the tooth 9 by means of whichthen a model of the hollowed tooth 9 is created.

However, it is easier to determine the shape of the cavity 10 directly.This can be performed, for example, with an optical probe 11 (see FIG.5) which is brought into a corresponding position relative to the cavity10, so that the same can be completely scanned.

Instead of gathering a data record from only one tooth 9 and one cavity10, one can also scan a larger remaining tooth area. This can beperformed, for example, by individual scans from predetermineddirections.

The thus obtained data can be stored or processed in a unit 12 (see FIG.5). From there, the data representing the remaining tooth area can betransmitted to modeling software 14. The software can also be installed,for example, in a computer with the aid of which a dental prosthesisdata record 15 is created. The modeling software can create the dentalprosthesis data record all-automatically, i.e. without any human help,or semiautomatically on the basis of operator inputs.

The thus obtained dental prosthesis data record 15 is transmitted to aproduction system 17 which, for example, first calculates milling dataand subsequently controls a cutter head 18. With the cutter head 18, onecan mill a dental prosthesis 20 out of a blank 19. Instead of milling,one can also employ any other method of manufacturing dental prostheses,such as laser lithography. The dental prosthesis can be dispatched tothe patient's location, so that the dental prosthesis 20 can be fitted.

The data record representing the shape of the remaining tooth area ispreferably obtained at the dentist. The modeling of the dentalprosthesis data record is advantageously made by a dental laboratorytechnician or in a dentistry laboratory, respectively. The manufactureof the dental prosthesis or the production system 17, respectively, ispreferably located in a production center. In this manner, the variouscomponents which are employed in the manufacture of dental prosthesescan be optimally linked so that an optimal utilization can be obtained.The production centers having high throughput capacities can optimallyutilize the appliances and correspondingly optimize them, while invarious dentistry laboratories, the systems for the creation (modeling)of dental prosthesis data records can be optimally employed andcorrespondingly optimized. Here, furthermore a procedure wherein theproduction is not executed in the production center itself, but wherethe manufacturing data record is rather calculated like in a computercenter and sent to the dentistry laboratory is particularly advantageous(also see below). There, the dental prosthesis can be manufactured, sothat it is directly at the dental laboratory technician's hand. In thecomputer center, the quality assurance and filing can then be possiblycentrally performed for documentation purposes.

The transmission 13, 16 is performed, for example, via Internet whichpermits the transmission of relatively large data volumes. Other remotedata transmission means are also possible.

However, it is also possible that two of the components 12, 14, 17, orelse all three of them are with the dentist.

While in FIGS. 4 and 5 the case of an inlay is shown, an overlay, acrown, a part of an implant or a bridge can also be manufactured in thismanner.

FIG. 6 shows two remote locations (A) and (B). Location (A) is, forexample, that of a dentistry laboratory, and location (B) that of aproduction center and/or computer center. At location (B), a system forcalculating milling data 24 is installed which can calculate the millingdata for the control of a milling machine 26, 30 from a dentalprosthesis data record. The milling machine 26 can mill a dentalprosthesis out of a blank 28 with a cutter head 27. Equally, the millingmachine 30 can mill a dental prosthesis out of a blank 32 with thecutter head 31. Instead of the milling machine 26 and/or the millingmachine 30, other machines for manufacturing dental prostheses can alsobe provided. Correspondingly, instead of or in addition to the systemfor calculating milling data, a corresponding system for calculatingmanufacturing data has to be provided.

From the system for calculating milling data 24, the milling data can betransmitted to location (A) by means of remote data transmission 25, sothat they can be forwarded to the milling machine 26 installed there.The milling data can also be forwarded from the system for calculatingmilling data 24 to a milling machine 30 at the same location (B) (see29). Whether the milling data are transmitted to the milling machine 26or to the milling machine 30, can depend on various factors. On the onehand, it can be preset on the orderer's demand. However, one can alsoexamine which manufacturing mode is more reasonable, quicker, cheaper orotherwise advantageous. The manufacture with the milling machine 26, forexample, has the advantage that a dispatch of the dental prosthesis tothe dentistry laboratory is not necessary. The manufacture in theproduction center (B), however, has the advantage that by large scalemanufacture low costs can be achieved as a good utilization of themilling machine 30 can be ensured. Moreover, larger dental prosthesesdifficult to manufacture can be better manufactured with a more accurateand precise milling machine 23 provided with a larger working range.

The dental prosthesis data record from which the system for calculatingmilling data 24 calculates the milling data can either have been createdat location (A) or at location (B), i.e. either by the dental laboratorytechnician or in the production center. It can be createdall-automatically or semiautomatically by means of software. In FIG. 6,the case is shown where a dental prosthesis data record 22 was createdat location (A) by the dental laboratory technician with a computer 21and subsequently transmitted (23) to the production center at location(B). With the method, it is thus for example possible that a dentallaboratory technician creates a dental prosthesis data record 22 withhis computer 21, transmits the same by remote data transmission, suchas, for example, via Internet (23) to the production center (B), wherethe system for calculating milling data 24 calculates the milling dataand sends them back to location (A) by remote data transmission (25)where then the dental prosthesis can be manufactured with the millingmachine 26.

In the production center (B), a central filing of the data in acorresponding memory 34 (see reference numeral 33) can also beperformed. Here, the milling data record as well as the dentalprosthesis data record can be filed.

It is also possible to transmit milling data to the milling machine 26at the dental laboratory technician as well as to forward them to amilling machine 30 in the production center. In this case, for example,in the dentistry laboratory (A), a prototype of a dental prosthesis canbe manufactured from a comparably soft material, which is inserted untilthe dental prosthesis of the production center (B) made of a hardermaterial is manufactured and dispatched.

The represented milling machines can be triaxial milling machines (assymbolically indicated in the Figures). However, four-axial orfive-axial milling machines can also be provided. Such appliances,however, are essentially more expensive, so that its employment ratheroffers itself in the production center (B).

One System <-> at Least Two Users

In a method for creating dental prosthesis data records, a user usuallyneeds a computer with corresponding software which permits the modelingof dental prostheses. These computers are especially equipped for quickgraphical data processing and are therefore technically rather complex.In order to offer a user the possibility of modeling dental prostheseswith as little effort as possible, a method according to claim 37 and asystem according to claim 38 are provided. Here, two users get thepossibility of sharing one system, wherein, however, both users can keeptheir respective data separately from one another. To this end,advantageously an operating system of the computer is provided thatpermits separate data storage by several users (multi-user operatingsystem). It is thus possible for two users to independently share onesystem. This can be interesting, for example, for two dentallaboratories and/or dental practices which are situated close to oneanother and can share one system.

Data Server, Modeling Client

In order to create dental prosthesis data records, one starts fromdigitalized data describing a remaining tooth area. Here, these data canbe either obtained on the basis of models (usually from plaster) ordirectly at the remaining tooth area. For obtaining these data records,as a rule a corresponding scanner is provided which can scan remainingtooth areas or models. The scanner is as a rule connected to a computerwhich controls the scanner and stores or further processes,respectively, the scan data. The scanning is performed relativelyquickly, i.e. within a period of down to less than a minute.

The modeling of a dental prosthesis is usually performed at the samecomputer as here the data and corresponding software for processing thedata relevant for the dental prosthesis already exist. This modeling islargely computer-aided. However, this takes a relatively long time(compared to scanning). If the dental prosthesis is modeled, the nextscanning operation for the next dental prosthesis can follow.

In contrast, there is the task of reducing the time for the creation ofdental prosthesis data records or improving the utilization of thescanner and/or computer.

For doing so, a data server is provided on which scan data are collectedand/or stored. This server can, for example, control a scanner by whichscan data are collected. Then, however, one or more other computers(clients) are provided by which the dental prosthesis data records canbe created (modeling). Meanwhile, however, the next scanning operationcan be already executed, so that the data are then directly availablefor the next dental prosthesis data modeling when the previous modelingoperation is completed. It is also possible to simultaneously model withseveral clients. Nevertheless, only one server is necessary as not muchtime is required for scanning. In case of many client computers,however, more than one server with scan data can also be provided inorder to achieve higher capacities.

The server and the client or clients can be situated in the samedentistry laboratory and/or at the same dentist and/or productioncenter. With this method or with such a system, it is, however, alsopossible that various dentists/laboratories/production centers share onesystem for obtaining scan data, and that they then, however, perform themodeling of the dental prostheses independently.

1. (canceled)
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 15. Method formanufacturing a dental prosthesis, comprising the steps of: obtaining adata record representing the shape of a remaining tooth area directly onthe basis of the remaining tooth area, transmitting the data record tomodeling software by which a dental prosthesis data record can becreated, examining the dental prosthesis data record to determinewhether the dental prosthesis data record is to be transmitted to aproduction system, and transmitting the dental prosthesis data record tothe production system that manufactures the dental prosthesis, if thedetermination is positive.
 16. Method according to claim 15, wherein thedata record is obtained using a chair side system.
 17. Method accordingto claim 15, wherein the data record is obtained at a first location andthe dental prosthesis data record is created and/or the dentalprosthesis is manufactured at a second location that is different thanthe first location.
 18. Method according to claim 15, wherein the dentalprosthesis is an inlay, an overlay, a crown, part of an implant or abridge.
 19. Method according to claim 15, wherein examining the dentalprosthesis data record includes examining a data record representing adental prosthesis using finite element methods.
 20. System formanufacturing a dental prosthesis having a device for obtaining a datarecord representing a shape of a remaining tooth area directly on thebasis of the remaining tooth area, means for transmitting the datarecord to modeling software by which a dental prosthesis data record canbe created, means for executing the modeling software for creating thedental prosthesis data record, means for examining whether the dentalprosthesis data record is to be transmitted to a production system thatcan manufacture a dental prosthesis, and means for transmitting thedental prosthesis data record to the production system, if thedetermination is positive.
 21. Method for manufacturing a dentalprosthesis, comprising the steps of: creating a dental prosthesis datarecord, calculating manufacturing data with a system for calculatingmanufacturing data at a first location on the basis of the dentalprosthesis data record, deciding at the first location whether themanufacturing data are to be transmitted to a second location,transmitting the manufacturing data by remote data transmission from thefirst location to the second location, if the determination is positive,and manufacturing the dental prosthesis at the second location, if thedetermination is positive.
 22. Method according to claim 21, wherein thedental prosthesis data record is created at the second location, andtransmitted to the first location by remote data transmission. 23.(canceled)
 24. Method according to claim 21, further comprisingexamining the dental prosthesis data record using a method wherein adata record representing a dental prosthesis is examined using finiteelement methods.
 25. System for manufacturing a dental prosthesishaving: a device for creating a dental prosthesis data record, a systemfor calculating manufacturing data at a first location for calculatingthe manufacturing data on the basis of the dental prosthesis datarecord, means for deciding at the first location whether themanufacturing data are to be transmitted to a second location, remotedata transmission means for transmitting the manufacturing data from thefirst location to a second location, and means for manufacturing thedental prosthesis at the second location.
 26. Method for manufacturing adental prosthesis, comprising the steps of: creating a dental prosthesisdata record, calculating manufacturing data with a system forcalculating manufacturing data-at a first location on the basis of thedental prosthesis data record, examining the manufacturing data todetermine whether the manufacturing data are to be transmitted to amanufacturing machine at the first location and/or at a second location,and manufacturing the dental prosthesis at the second location and/or atthe first location, according to a result of the determination. 27.Method according to claim 26, wherein the dental prosthesis data recordis created at the second location and transmitted to the first locationby remote data transmission.
 28. Method according to claim 26, furthercomprising examining the dental prosthesis data record using a methodwherein a data record representing a dental prosthesis is examined usingfinite element methods.
 29. System for manufacturing a dentalprosthesis, comprising: a device for creating a dental prosthesis datarecord, a system for calculating manufacturing data at a first locationfor calculating the manufacturing data on the basis of the dentalprosthesis data record, means for examining the manufacturing data todetermine whether the manufacturing data are to be transmitted to amanufacturing machine at the first location and/or to a second location,and means for manufacturing the dental prosthesis at the second locationand/or at the first location.
 30. Method, comprising: examining a dentalprosthesis data record and/or a manufacturing data record determiningwhether the manufacturing data record is to be forwarded to amanufacturing machine at a first location or transmitted via remote datatransmission to a second location, and forwarding the manufacturing datarecord to a manufacturing machine at the first location or transmittingthe manufacturing data record via remote data transmission to the secondlocation, according to the determination result.
 31. Computer at a firstlocation, comprising: storage means for storing manufacturing dataand/or a dental prosthesis data record, and examination means, by whichthe manufacturing data and/or the dental prosthesis data record can beexamined in order to determine whether the manufacturing data are to betransmitted to a second location via remote data transmission orforwarded to a manufacturing machine at the first location. 32.Computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by acomputer, perform the method according to claim
 30. 33. Computer programincluding program code means for performing the method of claim 30 whenexecuted on a computer.
 34. Method according to claim 21, furthercomprising filing the dental prosthesis data record and/or themanufacturing data at the first location.
 35. Method according to claim21, wherein the respective data transmission is performed via Internet.36. Method according to claim 21, the determination is made based on adifference in size and/or precision and/or speed of respectivemanufacturing machines utilized at the first location and at the secondlocation.
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 43. Method according to claim 16, whereinthe chair side system comprises an optical probe.
 44. Method accordingto claim 21, wherein the manufacturing data comprise milling data. 45.Method according to claim 21, wherein the system for calculatingmanufacturing data comprises a system for calculating milling data. 46.Method according to claim 25, wherein the system for calculatingmanufacturing data comprises a system for calculating milling data. 47.Method according to claim 26, wherein the manufacturing data comprisemilling data.
 48. Method according to claim 26, wherein the system forcalculating manufacturing data comprises a system for calculatingmilling data.
 49. Method according to claim 26, wherein themanufacturing machine comprises a milling machine.
 50. Method accordingto claim 29, wherein the system for calculating manufacturing datacomprises a system for calculating milling data.
 51. Method according toclaim 29, wherein the manufacturing data comprise milling data. 52.Method according to claim 29, wherein the manufacturing machinecomprises a milling machine.
 53. Method according to claim 30, whereinthe manufacturing data record comprises a milling data record. 54.Method according to claim 30, wherein the manufacturing machinecomprises a milling machine.
 55. Method according to claim 31, whereinthe manufacturing data comprise milling data.
 56. Method according toclaim 31, wherein the manufacturing machine comprises a milling machine.57. Method according to claim 36, wherein the manufacturing machinecomprises a milling machine.